Box kite



Dec. 12, 1950. w, M, FOY 2,533,570

BOX KITE Filed April 50, 1947 INVENTOR. WM. M. FOY

BY 5., W

Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in kites and is directed more particularly to improvements in box-kites.

My box-kite comprises three open cells presenting a plurality of sustaining or flying surfaces which insures a better behaved kite, which is more stable in strong winds and which will not dart or dive as quickly as a kite with less than three open cells. The kite is provided with diagonal bracing strut members which are so associated with longitudinal corner struts to maintain the cells of the kite in their proper shape without the longitudinal struts being weakened. The diagonal bracing struts can be disassembled from the corner struts of the kite which permits the kite to be rolled up for packaging. Further, the box-kite has means coacting therewith for preventing the rear end of the kite to sag with respect to its front portion thereof while in flight. The bridle String for the box-kite is provided with a ring which can be easily and quickly adjusted so that the towing string can be moved upwardly or downwardly in accordance with the velocity of the wind.

The elements of the box-kites heretofore constructed when assembled presented certain defects which would render the kites unstable in flight. Also the prior box-kites did not possess sufiicient adjustability of the elements with respect to each other so that these kites could not be adapted to meet the varying aerodynamic conditions which were encountered when the kites were flown.

It is an object of my invention to provide a box-kite which can be knocked down or partially disassembled so that it may be packaged for shipping or storage purposes.

It is another object of my invention to provide a box-kite having three or more open cells for sustaining the kite in flight which are equally spaced from each other.

It is still another object of my invention to provide in a knock-down box-kite, diagonal bracing struts which will maintain the elements of the assembled kite in proper relationship with each other and the bracing struts are associated with the longitudinal struts without weakening the longitudinal struts,

It is a further object to provide in a box-kite, means for preventing the sagging of the rear end of the kite with respect to its front portion of the kite while the kite is in flight.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide in a box-kite means for readily adjusting the position of the towing string with respect to the kite in accordance with the velocity of the wind.

Other and further objects will appear from the following detailed description and the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of th box-kite.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the box-kite.

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the box-kite.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of an adjustable bridle ring.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the diagonal bracing struts.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of one of the longitudinal corner struts.

Referring in detail to the drawings 29 is a boxkite which consists of four longitudinal corner struts 22 of wood, and transverse diagonal bracing struts 24 of wood are associated with the corner struts. Three spaced apart bands or strips of cloth 26 are attached to the corner struts 22. The bands 26 of cloth extend around the outside of the corner struts 22 and these bands are permanently glued or stapled to the corner struts or spines 22 and these securing means maintain the bands 26 in their correct relation to the open spaces 28 between the bands 26. Each band 25 of cloth is each a foot wide and hemmed or salvaged on both top and bottom edges thus preventing tearing or ripping of the cloth. One band of the cloth 25 is secured at the upper end of the corner struts 22, and the second band 2% of cloth is secured adjacent the mid-section of the longitudinal struts 22 with the upper edge of the second band of cloth 26 being spaced one foot from the lower edge of the upper band of cloth 26, while the third band of cloth 26 is secured at the lower end of the corner struts 22 with the upper edge of the lower band of cloth 26 being spaced one foot from the lower edge of the middle band of cloth 26. The upper band of cloth 26 is of red color, the middle band of cloth is white in color while the lower band is blue in color which provides a distinctive color combination for the kite.

Support blocks 3!! are glued or otherwise secured to each of th corner struts 22. There are six support blocks 31] secured to each corner strut 22, and the blocks 3!] are associated together in pairs with one block of each pair spaced from the other block of the pair providing a socket 32. There is one pair of blocks 3i? secured adjacent the upper end of each strut 22, a second pair of blocks 38 secured adjacent the mid-section of each strut 22 and a third pair of blocks 32 secured to the struts 22 adjacent their lower ends. There are three pairs of diagonal struts 24. Each pair of diagonal struts 24 are secured together by a rivet 33 near their central portions. A V-shaped notch 34 is formed at each end of each of the diagonal bracing struts 24 and these V-shaped notches 34 on the ends of the bracing struts 24 are adapted to be receivable in the sockets 32 on the corner struts 22.

A stabilizer string 36 is permanently tied adjacent the top of the front longitudinal strut 22 (see Figure 3)- and thisstring 36 isadapted to be tied below the lower block 30 of the lower pair of blocks 30 on the rear longitudinal strut 22. A

bridle string 38 which is preferably approximately four feet six inches in length has one end secured to the front longitudinal strut one foot from the lower end thereof (see Figure 3) while-the oppo-- site end of the string 38 is secured-to-the'front) longitudinal strut 22 about five inches from its top.

In assembly the box-kite 2B, the kite is shaken out of itsrolled up condition by holdingonte' one of the longitudinal struts 22. diagonal. struts is unfolded (each pair is capable of: being collapsed together) and. a- V-notcht 34 on one end of a strut 24 is placed in a socket 32- on one of the longitudinal struts 22 adjacent the central band of cloth 26 and then. the V-notch 34 on the opposite end of this strut 2t is placed in a socket 32 of the diagonally opposite strut 22 adjacent the central band of cloth 26. Then the V-notches on the ends of the other diagonal strut 24 of this pair of struts is likewise placed in the sockets 32 on the other two longitudinal struts 22 adjacent their mid-section. Then. a second pair-23 of diagonal strutsare secured between the corner orlongitudinal struts 22 in the center ofthe lower band of cloth 25. while a third pair of diagonal. struts. are likewis secured between the assembled in the kite, the rivet 33'which secures:

each pair of diagonal struts together at the point wherethey cross each other, prevents each pair of diagonal struts 22 from jumping. out of the sockets' 32: while the kite. 29 is in flight. When the: blocks 30 are secured to the longitudinal struts 22: to form. the sockets 32, the longitudinal struts 22 are not weakened as the sockets 32 are not cut. in the corner struts 22.

The: lower endof the stabilizer string; 36 is now tied; to the rear longitudinal strut 22'by threading; the loose end of the string around the rear longitudinal strut 22 inside the lower band of cloth 26 below the lower pair of diagonal strut blocks 30. Th string 36 is drawn just taut enough to take up the slack in the string'and is tied securely haved kite results. The area of the bands of cloth for sustaining the kite in flight is at a ratio of. .3 to 2 relative to the open spaces of the kite:

andeachof the two open spaces in the-kiteare; of

One pair 23 of? the equal area and the upper and lower bands of cloth are equally spaced from the middle band of cloth 26 which provides a box-kite which is more stable in strong winds and will not dart or dive as readily as box kites having dissimilar arrangements of the sustaining surfaces. The kit 20 therefore possesses exceptional stability as wind pressures can neither rotate the kite nor cause unusual longitudinal movements to the kite while in flight.

The box-kite 20 can be quickly and easily knocked down for shipping or storage. The upper and lower pairs of diagonal struts are first removed from assembly with the longitudinal struts 22 and then the middle pair of struts 23 are disassembled from engagement with the longitudinal struts 22. The three pairs of struts 23 can be folded together. Then the kite body can be rolled up and placed in a tube or the like along with the folded diagonal struts 23.

A bridle: rin 49- is: associated with the bridle string 38 by means of a girth hitch or larkshead: knot 42. justed toward the top of the string 38 or downward on the: bridle string, 33-. the wind should be relatively strong, 32 through 46 miles per hour, thebridle. ring 48: could be adjusted. upwardly onthe bridle string 38.- and the tow string 5!)- would be moved closer to thebody of the kite 22 so that the. rear. end of the kite 23 could: be raised while in flight to prevent the kite fromdarting. or falling while in: flight; If the velocity of the wind should be relatively mild, 8 through 18' miles per hour, then the 1 bridle ring 40 would be adjusted downwardly onthe bridle string 38 thus moving the tow string- Eilrelatively to the bodyof thekite. If it is desired toadjust the bridle ring 40 upwardly or downwardly, then the portion 44 of the knot 42' is pulled outwardly,.pulling downwardly and upwardly respectively the portion 46- and 38 of the bridle string 38, thusloosening the knot 4.2. Then the bridle ring 40 can be adjusted upwardly or downwardly on the bridle string 38 as long as the portion. 44 of the knot 42' remains loose.

Thev end of the tow string 5U- is threaded.

through the bridle ring 40 twice and is tiedato-the ring 40- with an ordinary slip knot.

The box-kite is virtually safe to use in electrical storms as substantially all of the elements are of non-conductive materials;

The form of the invention herein shown and described is preferred, but it is to be understood that changes may be made: with respect to material, shape, size: and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A box-kite comprising longitudinal corner struts, three spaced apart bands secured around the longitudinal struts forming flying surfacesand two spaced apart open areas in the kite, one

band secured. at the upper end of the longitudinal struts, a second band secured to the midsection of the longitudinal struts and the third band of cloth secured to the lower end of the longitudinal struts, the ratio between the total area of the flying surfaces of the kite to the total open area of the kite being 3' to 2 a plurality of pairs of blocks secured to each of the longitudinal struts formin sockets thereon, a plurality of pairs of diagonal struts, the ends of each pair of diagonal struts being notched for engagement in. the sockets on the longitudinal struts;v

the diagonal. struts; maintaining the flying. sure The bridle ring 40 can be easily ad- If the velocity of faces of the kite in fixed relation with each other.

2. A box-kite comprising longitudinal corner struts, a band of material of predetermined area secured to the upper portion of the corner struts providing sustaining surfaces, a second band of material of the same predetermined area secured adjacent the middle of the corner struts providing other sustaining surfaces, a third band of material of the same predetermined area as the upper band secured to the lower portion of the corner struts providing additional sustaining surfaces, means for maintaining the sustaining surfaces in fixed relationship with each other, the middle sustaining surfaces being equally spaced from the upper and lower sustaining surfaces providing equal open spaces between the upper and middle sustaining surfaces and the middle and lower sustaining surfaces, the ratio between the total area of the sustaining surfaces of the kite and the total area of the spaces of the kite being 3 to 2.

3. In a kite comprising longitudinal struts, a plurality of spaced apart bands secured around the longitudinal struts forming flying surfaces,

and open spaces formed between the plurality of REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 445,903 Roberts Feb. 3, 1891 598,038 Wardwell Jan. 25, 1898 605,596 Clayton June 14, 1898 607,129 Potter July 12, 1898 645,423 Merriman Mar. 13, 1900 1,261,731. Fronsdahl Apr. 2, 1918 1,328,143 Fergusson Jan. 13, 1920 1,878,041 Voss Sept. 20, 1932 2,057,148 Hopkins Oct. 13, 1 36 2,388,478 Garber Nov. 6, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 382,319 Germany Oct. 1, 1923 465,411 France Feb. 5, 1914 OTHER REFERENCES Century Magazine, vol. LIV9, page 75, picture of triple-celled kite.

The Use of Kites in the Exploration of the Upper Air by C. F. Marvin, page 211, Figure 58. 

